Fiber reinforced plastics bearing deck module having integrated shear connector and concrete composite bearing deck using the same

ABSTRACT

A fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) bearing deck module having integrated a shear connector and a concrete composite bearing deck using the same are provided. The FRP bearing deck module has an upper flange and a lower flange separated from each other by a predetermined height; a side web provided between the upper flange and the lower flange and forming a hollow portion longitudinally extended in a transverse direction to constitute a tubular shape; a shear connector protruded in a transverse direction and integrated to an upper part of the upper flange when draw-forming the FRP bearing deck module; and a fiber continuously arranged along an inside of the shear connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims all benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-47435 filed on Jun. 2, 2005 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fiber reinforced plastics bearing deck module having integrated a shear connector and a concrete composite bearing deck using the same, and more particularly to a novel fiber reinforced plastics (hereinafter, referred to as “FRP”) bearing deck module having integrated a shear connector so that a concrete slab is integrated with a FRP bearing deck module so as to form a structural integration of the concrete slab and a FRP deck panel from the manufacture of the FRP bearing deck module, when the FRP bearing deck modules are assembled to form the FRP deck panel and then the concrete slab is integrally connected to the deck panel to manufacture a bearing deck, and a concrete composite bearing deck using the module.

2. Description of the prior art

A composite of a reinforcing rod concrete slab and a FRP deck panel has been suggested as a bearing deck used for an engineering structure such as bridge. FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a concrete composite bearing deck disclosed in a Korean patent application No. 10-2002-40869 which was filed by the applicant. The concrete composite bearing deck 1 comprises a deck panel 10 and a concrete slab 20 having a thickness and integrally connected to an upper part of the deck panel 10. The deck panel 10 can be made of FRP and includes an upper flange 11 and a lower flange 12 which are separated from each other by a predetermined height, and a plurality of hollow portions 14 formed by side webs 13 between the upper flange 11 and the lower flange 12 are continuously formed in a line in a longitudinal direction (for example, bridge direction). Each of the hollow portions 14 is lengthwise formed in a transverse direction (for example, direction perpendicular to the bridge) to constitute a tubular shape.

In general, the deck panel 10 is structured by assembling FRP bearing deck modules having the several hollow portions 14, and the concrete slab 20 is integrally connected on the deck panel 10. The upper flange 11 of the deck panel 10 is used as a molding flask and the concrete is poured therein by a predetermined height to form the concrete slab 20.

In the mean time, in the concrete composite bearing deck consisting of the deck panel 10 and the concrete slab 20, it is very important to firmly combine the deck panel 10 with the concrete slab 20. In order to combine the deck panel 10 with the concrete slab 20, it has been conventionally suggested that a steel stud 15 is screwed on an upper surface of the upper flange 11 of the deck panel 10 as a shear connector. However, this method is not preferred since the different materials (steel/FRP) are connected. Further, since a screw hole should be formed in the upper flange 11 of the deck panel 10 so as to screw the stud, further works and costs are correspondingly required.

In the mean time, a method may be considered to attach a separate shear connector to the upper flange 11 with an adhesive. However, it has not been known how to attach what kind of the shear connector. In addition, even if the shear connector could be attached to the upper flange 11 with the adhesive, the attachment work is troublesome because each of the shear connectors should be attached one by one. In particular, shear stress may be concentrated on the connection area of the shear connector and the upper flange 11. In this case, even if the shear connector and the upper flange 11 are connected with the adhesive, the connection area may be easily damaged due to the concentrated stress.

Accordingly, it is needed a novel technology capable of achieving a firm structural composite of the deck panel 10 and the upper concrete slab 20 with less cost and works.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the invention is to provide a FRP bearing deck module having a new structure capable of achieving a firm structural composite of a FRP deck panel and a concrete slab with less cost and works, and a concrete composite bearing deck using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) bearing deck module forming a deck panel of a concrete composite bearing deck, comprising: an upper flange and a lower flange separated from each other by a predetermined height; a side web provided between the upper flange and the lower flange and forming a hollow portion longitudinally extended in a transverse direction to constitute a tubular shape; a shear connector protruded in a transverse direction and integrated to an upper part of the upper flange when draw-forming the FRP bearing deck module; and a fiber continuously arranged along an inside of the shear connector.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the shear connector may have a web protruded upwardly which may be continuously formed in a transverse direction and the web may be formed with a through-hole.

According to the invention, there is provided a concrete composite bearing deck of a fiber reinforced plastics deck panel consisting of plural FRP bearing deck modules assembled and a concrete slab thereon, each of the FRP bearing deck modules comprising: an upper flange and a lower flange separated from each other by a predetermined height; a side web provided between the upper flange and the lower flange and forming a hollow portion longitudinally extended in a transverse direction to constitute a tubular shape; a shear connector protruded in a transverse direction and integrated to an upper part of the upper flange when draw-forming the FRP bearing deck module; and a fiber continuously arranged along an inside of the shear connector.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the shear connector may have a web protruded upwardly which may be continuously formed in a transverse direction and the web may be formed with a through-hole.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the concrete slab may be provided with a reinforcing rod which is arranged through the through-hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a concrete composite bearing deck according to an embodiment of the invention laid on a girder;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a FRP bearing deck module according to the invention constituting a FRP deck panel of the concrete composite bearing deck shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing another preferred embodiment of a FRP bearing deck module of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a enlarged view showing a fiber arrangement in a part of a FRP bearing deck module of the invention where a shear connector is formed;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a FRP bearing deck module, which shows a preferred example of a shear connector provided to the FRP bearing deck module of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a FRP bearing deck module, which shows another preferred example of a shear connector provided to the FRP bearing deck module of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a FRP bearing deck module, which shows still another preferred example of a shear connector provided to the FRP bearing deck module of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view of a FRP bearing deck module, which shows still another preferred example of a shear connector provided to the FRP bearing deck module of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective view which schematically shows a preferred arrangement form of a reinforcing rod of a concrete slab under state that a shear connector is embedded in the concrete slab in a bearing deck of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view which schematically shows another preferred arrangement form of a reinforcing rod of a concrete slab under state that a shear connector is embedded in the concrete slab in a bearing deck of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing a concrete composite bearing deck according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a concrete composite bearing deck 100 according to an embodiment of the invention laid on a girder 400, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a FRP bearing deck module 200 according to the invention constituting a FRP deck panel 110 of the concrete composite bearing deck 100, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing another preferred example of the FRP bearing deck module 200 of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the concrete composite bearing deck 100 according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a FRP deck panel 110 and a concrete slab 120 having a thickness and integrally connected to an upper part of the deck panel 110. For convenience sake, the concrete slab 120 is shown with a dot-dash line in FIG. 1. The FRP deck panel 110 may consist of the plural FRP bearing deck modules assembled. According to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the FRP bearing deck module 200 comprises an upper flange 201 and a lower flange 202 separated from each other by a predetermined height, and hollow portions 204 formed by side webs 203 provided between the upper flange 201 and the lower flange 202. The hollow portions 204 are continuously formed in a line in a longitudinal direction (for example, bridge direction) while being longitudinally formed in a transverse direction (for example, direction perpendicular to the bridge) to constitute a tubular shape.

In the invention, the FRP bearing deck module 200 is formed with a shear connector 205 integrated to the upper flange 201. The FRP bearing deck module 200 is manufactured by a draw-forming in a transverse direction, wherein the shear connector 205 is integrally draw-formed while being protruded from the upper flange 201. Specifically, the shear connector 205 integrated to the upper flange 201 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a web 215 and an upper flange 225 and the web 215 is integrated to the upper flange 201.

At this time, in order for the shear connector 205 to be integrated to the other parts of the FRP bearing deck module 200, including the upper flange 201, a fiber 300 arranged to the FRP bearing deck module 200 is continuously arranged over the shear connector 205 and the side web 203. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a fiber arrangement in a part of the FRP bearing deck module 200 of the invention where the shear connector 205 is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the fiber 300 constituting the FRP is continuously arranged over the shear connector 205 and the side web 203. At this time, it is preferred that the fiber 300 is formed into a mat-type having a lattice shape. The fiber 300 may extend to the lower flange 202 beyond the shear connector 205 and the side web 203, and may be continuously arranged over the shear connector 205 and the upper flange 201. The continuous arrangements of the fiber 300 may be combined each other.

Like this, according to the invention, when the FRP bearing deck module 200 is draw-formed, it is manufactured with the shear connector 200 being integrated to the upper flange 01. Therefore, contrary to the prior art, a troublesome work is not necessary where a separate shear connector should be later equipped to the upper flange. In particular, as described above, since the fiber 300 arranged to the FRP bearing deck module is continuously arranged over the shear connector 205 and the side web 203 and/or the upper flange 201 and/or the lower flange 202, the shear connector 205 and the FRP bearing deck module 200 are firmly integrated. Accordingly, .even though the shear stress is concentrated on a connection part of the shear connector 205 and the FRP bearing deck module 200, the shear connector 205 can exhibit sufficient shear rigidity. In addition, in the above embodiment of the invention, since the shear connector 205 is formed into a beam shape and provided to the FRP bearing deck module in a transverse direction, it serves as a reinforcement member for the concrete composite bearing deck 100 in the transverse direction thereof (direction perpendicular to the bridge), thereby remarkable increasing the transverse rigidity of the concrete composite bearing deck 100.

In the mean time, according to the invention, the assembly structure of the FRP bearing deck module itself has a protrusion 240 formed on a side of the FRP bearing deck module 200 and a recess 242 formed on the other side thereof, so that the protrusion 240 of the one FRP bearing deck module 200 can be received in the recess 242′ of the neighboring FRP bearing deck module 200′, as shown in FIG. 2. As a consequence, it is possible to continuously assemble the plural FRP bearing deck modules 200 through such manner.

In addition to the above structure, the connection structure of the neighboring FRP bearing deck modules 200 can be modified in various manners. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, recesses 218, 218′ are provided to each of the lower flanges 202, 202′ of the neighboring FRP bearing deck modules 200, 200′ so that they are connected to each other, the side webs 203, 203′ of the neighboring FRP bearing deck modules 200, 200′ are adhered with an adhesive and then a connection plate 216 is adhered to the recesses 218, 218′.

FIGS. 5 to 8 are partially enlarged perspective views of the FRP bearing deck module, which show modified examples of the shear connector 205. As shown in FIG. 5, if through-holes 235 are formed in the web 215 of the shear connector 205, the concrete is cured with flowing between the through-holes 235 when the shear connector 205 is embedded in the concrete slab 120 (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the firmer mechanical composite and shear connection between the concrete slab 120 and the deck panel 110 (see FIG. 1), so that the structural integration is further enhanced.

In addition to the embodiment wherein the web 215 and the upper flange 225 are provided, the shape of the shear connector 205 may be modified in such a way that the upper flange 225 is formed in one direction only as shown in FIG. 6, or the upper flange 225 is omitted as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

In the mean time, according to the invention, the shear connector 205 is very usefully used to equip the reinforcing rod to the concrete slab 120. FIGS. 9 and 10 are partially enlarged perspective views schematically showing that reinforcing rods 121 of the concrete slab 120 are arranged using the shear connector 205 under state that the shear connector 205 is embedded in the concrete slab 120.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the reinforcing rods 121 are arranged in the concrete slab 120, the shear connector 205 can be used as a support member for the reinforcing rods 121. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, in case that the through-holes 235 are formed in the web 215 of the shear connector 205, the reinforcing rods 121 are arranged to pass through the through-holes 235. For reference, although the upper flange is not provided to the shear connector 205 in FIG. 10, the structure of inserting the reinforcing rods 121 into the through-holes 235 of the web 215 can be applied to the shear connector having the upper flange. Likewise, the structure of laying the reinforcing rods 121 on the shear connector can be applied to a shear connector having no upper flange, in addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9.

According to the invention, the FRP bearing deck modules 200 integrated with the shear connector 205 are assembled each other to constitute the FRP deck panel 110, and the concrete slab 120 is poured so that the shear connector 205 is integrally embedded above the FRP deck panel 110 with the FRP deck panel 110 being equipped to the girder, thereby forming the concrete composite bearing deck 100. At this time, in order to further enhance the connection between the concrete slab 120 and the upper surface of the FRP deck panel 110, the upper surface of the FRP deck panel 110 is preferably coarsened by coating silica sands, for example.

As described above, according to the invention, the FRP bearing deck module is draw-formed under state that the FRP shear connector is integrally provided to the upper surface of the FRP bearing deck module constituting the FRP deck panel. Accordingly, contrary to the prior art, a troublesome work is not necessary where a separate shear connector should be later equipped to the FRP deck panel.

In addition, since the shear connector is integrally provided from the manufacture of the FRP bearing deck module, it is possible to achieve the firm structural composite between the FRP deck panel and the concrete slab without the troublesome work and the costs.

Additionally, according to the invention, since the shear connector is integrally provided in the transverse direction of the FRP deck panel, the transverse rigidity of the concrete composite bearing deck is further increased.

In particular, the shear connector can be very usefully used as the means for supporting the reinforcing rods when the reinforcing rods are arranged in the concrete slab.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) bearing deck module forming a deck panel of a concrete composite bearing deck, the module comprising: an upper flange and a lower flange separated from each other by a predetermined height; a side web provided between the upper flange and the lower flange and forming a hollow portion longitudinally extended in a transverse direction to constitute a tubular shape; a shear connector protruded in a transverse direction and integrated to an upper part of the upper flange when draw-forming the FRP bearing deck module; and a fiber continuously arranged along an inside of the shear connector.
 2. The FRP bearing deck module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shear connector is provided with a protrusion web on the upper flange and the web is continuously formed in a transverse direction.
 3. The FRP bearing deck module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protrusion web of the shear connector is formed with a through-hole.
 4. A concrete composite bearing deck of a fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) deck panel and a concrete slab thereon, the FRP deck panel comprising plural FRP bearing deck modules assembled, each of the FRP bearing deck modules comprising: an upper flange and a lower flange separated from each other by a predetermined height; a side web provided between the upper flange and the lower flange and forming a hollow portion longitudinally extended in a transverse direction to constitute a tubular shape; a shear connector protruded in a transverse direction and integrated to an upper part of the upper flange when draw-forming the FRP bearing deck module; and a fiber continuously arranged along an inside of the shear connector.
 5. The concrete composite bearing deck as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shear connector is provided with a protrusion web on the upper flange and the web is continuously formed in a transverse direction.
 6. The concrete composite bearing deck as claimed in claim 5, wherein the protrusion web of the shear connector is formed with a through-hole.
 7. The concrete composite bearing deck as claimed in claim 6, wherein the concrete slab comprises a reinforcing rod arranged through the through-hole. 